Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Aidenbaby]

While they probably didn't mean to offend you, they did put their foot in their mouth. Why couldn't your friend have offered to buy her from you? That would have been more my standing. If you want the foal, you buy the whole kit and caboodle (or is it kitten kaboodle). Absolutely, your families needs and wants should come before anyone else.

 

[Farmfresh]

I agree. Probably no ill will intended, but still... :/

I would just have laughed straight at them and given them a "LOT price".

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Emily let us pick up ONE foot!!



We bribed her with a treat (shame on us, I know!) and while she was eating her treat we grabbed her halter. She was a little bit panicked at first, but once we had her by the halter she immediately calmed down a bit, still was untrusting, but not panicking, kicking, stomping or anything.

We clipped her lead on and I whipped out my pocket horse brush (bought for $1.95 so yes, I went cheap until I learn more about the brush(es) I need for her) and I held the brush in front of her so she could sniff it. Then I told her, "I'm going to brush your neck" and I do so.

She was standing sooooo still for us. We tied the end of her lead around a post, because we don't know if she's ever been tied, etc, so we just thought we'd try it. No joke, once her lead rope was on the post and NOT in our hands, you could see her relax! She heaved a sigh, and I kept brushing her neck.

I only spent about 20-30 minutes with her? But while I was brushing her neck, DH was rubbing her chest, her nose, her shoulders, telling her no one was going to hurt her. When he got to her shoulders, he rubbed down her right front leg...Now touching her legs NORMALLY makes her jump and jerk her head. She didn't do it this time!! Ernie asked her, "Can I see your foot?" She didn't move, didn't even flinch! but she refused to lift that foot!

I reached down and said, "Emmy, lift up" and she picked her foot right up!!!! I held it in my hand for just about 30 seconds, but I got a good eyeful of what the bottom of that foot. Surely, her feet are filthy!!

So then we kept running our hands over her, and under her belly...and I am not sure what a horse or pony should feel like under their belly, but we rubbed our hands over where...uh, not sure what you call them on a horse, it would have been her udder if she was a cow....but anyway, feels like she might have a sore??? Or a growth, or mud caked....something....wasn't putting my face under there to look, either.

So after we were done brushing, and had picked that same foot up 3 times in a row, we untied her lead and spent a few minutes walking her around the pasture. She follows quite well. Doesn't fight the rope, unless there is something making her nervous (like Chase and Boss standing in front of her). After 3 turns around on the lead, I unclipped the rope, told her she was a very good girl, and I turned and walked away. She stood looking at me like, "That's it? I'm done?" lol

Right after I walked away I hear this thundering of hooves, look over my shoulder, and here comes Boss, our 250 pound calf, chasing after me!!!!!!!!!!!! I hollered for him to stop and he looked at me like, "What?"

 

[freemotion]

Two thoughts.....I agree with Aidenbaby, you can tell your friend to take pregnant Emily if she wants the foal, then she can do what she wants with Emily....keep her, sell her, whatever. I would push for that. Be just as pushy! It would be a great solution, and you could still visit, win-win!

As for the sore near her udder (udder and teats on a horse, too), two thoughts....flies often bite and re-bite around the cowlicks on a horse's belly, and create scabby areas, or a tick that bit and dropped off can create a big, itchy scab. Also, many mares get crud that builds up between the teats if it is not cleaned out regularly. That may be what you were feeling. If this is the case, she may rub her tail or butt if there is a surface available for her to do so. Tail rubbing is not always about worms. Don't try to clean this until she is well-behaved when you touch her belly, or you could get quite a good kicking. It is good to really handle her udder and teats now if this is her first baby, so she is less likely to reject the foal.

Yay on the hoof-pick-up!

 

[Farmfresh]

Doing great!

I use two different main brushes on the horses. One is round rubber and has big rubber "fingers"- called a rubber curry. The second brush is called a dandy brush and is basically just a stiff bristle brush. (we used a scrub brush for years! ) Rubber curry that works best looks like this with soft rubber fingers. http://houseoftropicals.com/store/product.php?productid=25648

Brush it in a circular motion and it removes shedding hair and gives a wonderful massage! The old metal rings brush is a no no. Actually rough on most horses skin.

Between their udders they often get a build up of a waxy substance called smegma. It will make sores if it is not cleaned away, but she is a ways from being ready for all of that. You need to wash between udders and all around with a gentle soap and rinse well. She would go sky high at this point.

I would go ahead and de-worm her. I usually do our horses at least once a year in the dead of winter if they have only been at home and up to 4 times a year (if a fecal exam suggests it) if we are showing. Goodness knows how long it has been for your pony. If a worm load gets to great it can actually rupture the gut and they will die (happened to us when I was a kid). She probably needs shots to at least for tetanus and sleeping sickness which is transferred by mosquitoes.

As for fly spray. The old saying you can catch more flys with sugar than vinegar is true! We use about 1 cup ACV plus 2 t liquid citrus dish soap in 1 qt water. Works great! It can be wiped on or sprayed. It might make her coat bleach out a little in the summer and sometimes a strong rain may make her a little sudsy, but cheap and efficient.

You will need a cheap hoof pick to clean out her feet once you gain her trust. But it seems like you are doing great. The easiest color for a horse to see is yellow. (no they are NOT color blind - they just cannot see RED). I get a yellow bucket or pan and give a little handful of whole oats in the bucket to catch or as a treat. NO hand held treats as this makes them get nippy. All treats (carrots, piece of apple, saltine cracker, bread) go in the bucket. Treats are NOT cheating. Remember your main problem is going to be too much food. A little thing like your pony can live forever and WELL on a couple flakes of good grass hay per day. Keep all feed little.

As for the jealous calf ... well you are on your own there!

 

[Aidenbaby]

Without anything visual, it is near impossible to guess what the crud/booboo could be. I did have a thought that you might be able to use a camer phone of something and try to get a blind picture of it. My horse used to get all sorts of mud ALL over her and she hated baths. Brushing the crap out of her all the time was the only way to keep her respectable looking. I miss having a horse.

 

[Blackbird]

If your worried about her udder too much and its just a scab or sore, you could probably use cai-pan, Naylor's udder balm, or aloe cream on it to help it clear.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

The brush I picked up is a stiff bristle brush with a wooden back. Set it the wrong way in my pocket, though, and got the bristles in my thigh! :/

I can get my hands on a bright yellow bucket for $1.98...might have to do that!

She's not running from the fence now when we come up to it. First day she would run to the opposite end of the pasture from us, wait until we walked away to come down by the barn. Now that she sees the calves hanging out by us and getting good scratchings, she comes down our way to stand, but not so close as to be able to touch her.

We've only so far been able to get hold of her when she walks in the barn.

As for feed, we put 1 cup of grain in the feeder a day. Is that too much? That's just so she stays out of the calves chop. Then while the calves are finishing their chop, that's when we put the lead on her and walk her around a bit.

I have been standing on the inside of the fence off and on during the day, petting the calves, just so she has the chance to get used to me during the day. I just want her to get comfortable with our presense at this point.

 

[Farmfresh]

You could also give her a few chopped up carrots or something instead of grain all of the time. It is hard with those dinky ones. Just eating too much grass can be a real problem. You might consider making her a little short lot with no grass in it - just water, and keeping her in it about half of the day. If there is shade she could be in the lot during the day and graze all night. My aunt even keeps her show horses on this type of schedule to keep them trim.

Since she is possibly bred (due you know possible date of conception?), you should get her a mineral/salt block that has selenium in it. There is a type of spontaneous abortion that occurs in mares with low selenium levels. (again been there - done that)

I wouldn't worry too much about the belly scab thing. Mostly this just comes with not being groomed and ponies are tough. As she gets tamer you can work it out. It is more important that you get those feet handled, cleaned out and attended to. You have to watch for hoof rot (thrush) this time of the year and dry cracking feet in the hot part of summer.

If she has thrush you will know it when you clean out the feet. It is black and STINKS. If so just paint a little strong bleach water on the foot sole and let it dry every day for a while. That will kill the fungus. Dry cracking feet benefit from standing in a little clean mud every day. We try to overflow the horse tank to make a mud pool so they walk through it when they go to drink.

A lot to learn - but just take it slow. The main thing is watch her from eating too much.

 

[Beekissed]

Awwwww, Aly! She is adorable!!! I can see her being a real draw when you open your farm to the public and show little kids about farm animal care....Oh, you were going to do this eventually, weren't you? Get her loved on and gentled and she could be a real attraction at your place!

She doesn't look too bad from a distance, so the things you describe must not be too much to deal with. She is so very cute and seems to have a better conformation than the minis I see around here, with big, pot-bellies and knobby knees!

The baby may recoup your money, mini donkeys are all the rage right now!